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Beyond finding a reliable tent, a comfortable camping mat is one of the best ways to promote a good night’s kip while sleeping in the great outdoors. As an avid camper and outdoors enthusiast, I’ve spent countless nights under the stars and, over the years, I’ve tested more camping mats than I can count, learning firsthand how the right one can make or break a night’s sleep in the wild. I know what matters and I’ve brought that knowledge into this guide to help you find the best camping mat for your own adventures.
Camping mats will, broadly speaking, fall into two categories: inflatable and foam. For multi-day camping trips, you’ll be best off with inflatable or self-inflating mats, as they tend to be more comfortable. Less bulky when packed away too, they’ll make a wise choice for backpackers and wild campers, but bear in mind they are at risk of puncturing.
More robust and less expensive than inflatable mats, foam camping mats can be ideal for festivals, budget campers or sleeping on rocky ground, as they can’t puncture. Whether you want to sacrifice some comfort for this, however, is something individual campers will want to weigh up.
Material aside, you should also take into account something called an R-value – this tells you how warm your new mat will be to sleep on (measured by its capacity to resist heat loss). The main job of a good camping mat is to keep you insulated from the cold ground, and the higher the R-value, the more insulating it’ll be. Broadly, an R-value below two is best for summer use, two to four will suit three-season use, and winter campers should look for four or above.
Don’t forget to think about the weight and size of your new camping mat, too. Hikers and wild campers will want a compact and lightweight mat (some compress as small as a water bottle and weigh less than 400g). Meanwhile, family and car campers can pack something bigger and bulkier that offers great comfort, or even go for a double camping mat that two adults can share.
How I tested
My family and I packed our backpacks for several camping trips, ranging from wild camping in northern Scotland to glamping on the Cornish coast, to test out these camping mats. We slept on each one for multiple nights in autumn and winter conditions, to test them against a series of criteria, including:
- Warmth: A good camping mat does more than just provide comfort – it plays a crucial role in insulating you from the cold ground. We evaluated each mat's R-value to ensure it could retain body heat effectively in various weather conditions. Mats were tested in both cool and temperate environments to assess real-world performance, especially overnight when temperatures drop.
- Comfort: I know how important a good night’s sleep is when you’re camping, so I paid close attention to each mat’s thickness, cushioning, and surface texture to see how well it eased pressure points and kept me from sliding around. By trying them out in different sleeping positions and on various types of ground, I was able to find the mats that struck the best balance between softness and support.
- Durability: I examined the materials and construction of each mat, paying attention to how resistant they were to general wear and tear. I also looked at how well they held up after repeated inflation, deflation, and packing.
- Portability: When you’re hiking or backpacking, every ounce and inch matters. I looked at how much each mat weighed and how compactly it packed down, since a bulky or heavy mat can really weigh you down on the trail. For me, a portable mat means more freedom to explore without being bogged down, so it played a big role in which mats I ultimately recommended.
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Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Sian Lewis is an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist who has written for IndyBest since 2020. Sian has previously delivered her verdict on the best camping and hiking gear, from walking boots to sleeping bags and more. In her reviews, she offers her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.
The best camping mats for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Therm-a-Rest neoair xlite NXT camping mat: £192.50, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Nhowin self-inflating camping mat: £23.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best self-inflating design – Vango comfort 7.5 double camping mat: £109.99, Outdoorworlddirect.co.uk
- Best for comfort – Snugpak XL self-inflating camping mat: £90, Snugpak.com
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Therm-a-Rest neoair xlite NXT camping mat
Best: Overall camping mat
R-value: 4.5
Dimensions: 183cm x 51cm x 7.62cm
Weight: 377g
Storage dimensions: Packs as small as a conventional 1l bottle
Seasons: All
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Excellent insulation in cold weather
For all-round performance in all seasons, we really rate Therm-a-Rest’s neoair xlite camping pad. This bright yellow mat is very lightweight at 377g, packs down small and offers solid quality, night after night. The surface of the pad is firm yet supportive, and we found this mat provides excellent insulation, even in cold weather, with an R-value of 4.5.
The xlite comes in a range of sizes, with models available to suit taller, shorter and wider campers. The price means this is an investment for dedicated wild campers and multi-day hikers – if you’re a casual camper, you may want to opt for something cheaper.
Buy now £192.50, Amazon.co.uk
NHOWIN self-inflating camping mat
Best: Budget camping mat
R-value: N/A
Dimensions: 196.5cm x 65cm x 9cm
Weight: 950g
Storage dimensions: 28cm x 10cm
Seasons: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Self-inflating
- Comfortable
- Pillow included
Many of the best air mats on the market are painfully expensive – not so in the case of NHOWIN’s self-inflating mat, which is a bargain at less than £30. This inflatable design has clocked up 4.9 stars on Amazon, and, after testing, we’d have to agree with its fans. This comfortable mat is lightweight (950g) and compact when rolled up. Once inflated (using the built-in foot pump), it provides an effective bed (although, side sleepers may need something thicker) with a brilliant pillow included. Poppers enable you to attach another of these mats to one side, to create a double mattress.
Buy now £23.99, Amazon.co.uk
Mountain Warehouse roll mat
Best: Camping mat for less than £10
R-value: N/A
Dimensions: 180cm x 50cm x 0.8cm
Weight: 230-235g
Storage dimensions: 18cm x 50cm
Seasons: Not specified
Why we love it
- Ideal for rocky ground
- Affordable
Take note
- Less comfy than an inflatable
Roll mats may not be quite as comfy to sleep on as inflatable mats, but they do have one redeeming feature: they’re nigh-on indestructible (unlike air mats, which, if pierced, will immediately deflate and be rendered useless). This means roll mats are great for use on rocky, uneven ground or for popping under an air mat for extra protection. Roll mats are also far more affordable than air mats: Mountain Warehouse’s simple but effective model costs less than £10, and is tough, insulating and long-lasting. For colder conditions, try Mountain Warehouse’s trek mat (£12.99, Mountainwarehouse.com), which has an aluminium layer that reflects back body heat.
Buy now £6.99, Mountainwarehouse.com
Big Agnes divide insulated sleeping mat
Best: Camping mat for multi-day hikes
R-value: 4
Dimensions: 20cm x 13cm
Weight: 652g
Storage bag dimensions: 183cm x 51cm x 9cm
Seasons: Spring, summer, autumn
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Easy to pack and carry
- Thermolite insulation
Big Agnes’s distinctive yellow divide mat boasts the excellent combination of being lightweight, well-insulated and pleasantly thick, while also packing away neatly into a compact storage bag. This makes it a good choice for multi-day hikes, when you don’t want to add too much weight to your backpack but also need a comfy mat to ensure you’re well rested on your adventures. It took a bit of puff for us to get this mat inflated, but the 9cm thickness combined with Thermolite insulation kept us warm and comfortable out on the trail, even in temperatures that hovered around freezing. With an RRP of £120, it’s pretty great value for a high-performing three-seasons camping mat.
Buy now £108.93, Amazon.co.uk
Snugpak XL self-inflating camping mat
Best: Camping mat for comfort
R-value: N/A (Snugpak uses a different testing method)
Dimensions: 195cm x 62cm x 5cm
Weight: 1.7kg
Storage bag dimensions: 64cm x 25cm
Seasons: All seasons
Why we love it
- Extra long and wide
- Inflatable pillow
- Foam layer for protection on rocks
A comfy night’s sleep is built in to Snugpak’s XL mat. Extra long and wide, this design will make you feel like you’ve got plenty of space to stretch out, and a handy inflatable pillow (so you’ll never forget to bring one again) also helps to make this mat a treat to sleep on. While it isn’t quite self-inflating, despite its name, it does only take a few puffs to get Snugpak’s XL mat ready, and a foam layer adds welcome comfort and warmth as well as protecting you if you stretch out on rockier terrain.
Buy now £90.00, Snugpak.com
Vango comfort 7.5 double camping mat
Best: Self-inflating camping mat
R-value: 7
Dimensions: 200cm x 130cm x 7.5cm
Weight: 5.47kg
Storage bag dimensions: 64cm x 20cm
Seasons: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Self-inflating
- Soft-touch upper
Free yourself from the faff of footpumps on your next camping holiday with a self-inflating double mat. Open a valve and Vango’s comfort mat fills with air and is ready to go in seconds, or you can top it up quickly if you prefer a firmer sleeping mat. Once inflated, this design stays in shape all night long. We also love the soft-touch upper of the comfort mat, which helps sleeping bags stop sliding off in the middle of the night. However, it is worth mentioning that this mat isn’t as thick as some premium double designs, so, if you’re looking for an alternative to your bed at home, pick a thicker pad.
Buy now £109.99, Outdoorworlddirect.co.uk
Outdoor Revolution camp star double self inflating mat
Best: Double camping mat
R-value: 6.1
Dimensions: 201cm x 135cm x 10cm
Weight: 6.7kg
Storage bag dimensions: 73cm x 30cm x 28cm
Seasons: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Double size
- Self-inflating
Take note
- Weighty at almost 7kg
If you’re cosying up with a fellow camper in a big family tent or fancy recreating your double bed, a self-inflating double mat is a clever choice. We rated the camp star double from Outdoor Revolution on test – it takes only a minute or two to inflate and combines a warm foam core with inflatable panels for a very comfy night’s sleep indeed, with plenty of support for two adults sharing. At almost 7kg, this mat is bulkier than most, so it’s best used on longer car camping holidays.
Buy now £109.99, Outdoorworlddirect.co.uk
Sea to Summit comfort deluxe camping mat
Best: Luxury camping mat
R-value: 6.5
Dimensions: 183cm x 64cm x 10cm
Weight: 1.995kg
Storage bag dimensions: 18cm x 67cm
Seasons: All seasons
Why we love it
- 10cm thickness
- Ideal for campervans
Sea to Summit isn’t messing around when it sticks “comfort” and “deluxe” in the name of this rather sumptuous sleeping pad. A plush, mattress-like knit topper, four-season warmth and 10cm of thickness make this self-inflating single mat feel like a more portable version of your mattress at home. We also like that you can attach a Sea to Summit pillow to the mat, so that it stays put during the night. The comfort deluxe is ideal for tents but was actually designed with campervans in mind – it’d work brilliantly in both.
Buy now £190.00, Seatosummit.co.uk
Outwell dreamcatcher single XL camping mat
Best: Camping mat for single sleepers
R-value: 7.5
Dimensions: 200cm x 75cm x 12cm
Weight: 3.3kg
Storage bag dimensions: 78cm x 21cm
Seasons: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Extra-large design
- 10cm of depth
If you’re taller than average, tend to be a restless sleeper or just hate the restrictive feeling of some barely there camping mats, treat yourself to an extra-large design. Our pick of the pack is Outwell’s Dreamcatcher, which is a generous 200cm in length and 75cm wide, suiting most body types. It also has 10cm of depth, which keeps you well off the ground, even if you sleep on your side – no more achy shoulders or hips here – and stays inflated until morning. A treat for solo campers, the high R-value means you’ll only need one mat for year-round trips.
Buy now £129.99, Outwell.com
Robens iceshield camp 55 camping mat
Best: Camping mat for easy packing on the go
R-value: 4.2
Dimensions: 195cm x 65cm x 5.5cm
Weight: 1.075kg
Storage bag dimensions: 32cm x 19cm
Seasons: All seasons
Why we love it
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Tough and durable outer
Take note
- Material is a little squeaky
A lot of mats that offer reliable warmth and pillowy comfort end up being heavy and hard to cart about, but that’s not the case in Roben’s new iceshield camp 35. At nearly 1kg, it isn’t prohibitively heavy and it also deflates easily before packing away into a backpack. The iceshield also stood out on test for its great quality – the outer fabric is tough yet comfortable and the mat keeps its shape once inflated and feels like it’ll withstand years of sleeping under the stars. Be warned, light sleepers: the iceshield is slightly squeaky when you move.
Buy now £69.99, Robens.de
Big Agnes rapide insulated wide sleeping mat
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Best: Camping mat for winter
R-value: 4.8
Dimensions: 64cm x 183cm
Weight: 645g
Storage bag dimensions: 10cm x 20cm
Seasons: All
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Warm
- Small pack size
Big Agnes has made its bestselling ‘rapide’ winter-ready in this new lighter and warmer design with a higher R-value. It took a bit of puff for us to get this mat inflated but, once ready to go, this thick mat with added heat reflective film kept us warm and comfortable out on the trail, even in temperatures that hovered around freezing. Although it’s pricey, it offers great value for a high-performing four-season camping mat you can reach for year-round, and comes in various sizes and lengths.
Buy now £131.96, Amazon.co.uk
Robens zigzag slumber pro
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Best: Zigzag camping mat
R-value: 2.4
Dimensions: 192cm x 60cm x 2.8cm
Weight: 620g
Storage bag dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 16cm
Seasons: Spring, summer
Why we love it
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Tearproof
Take note
- Limited warmth
Kipping on rocky terrain or need a mat you can rely on in the backcountry? The Robens zigzag is a foldable, easy to carry mat you can lash to your rucksack and then unfold wherever you end up camping. Made of tough foam and finished with foil to reflect back body heat, this relatively affordable mat is nigh-on indestructible and is wide enough to be comfy even if you toss and turn. While the zigzag is portable and lightweight, it offers limited warmth, so it’s best used in the summer months or combined with an inflatable map popped on top during cooler weather.
Buy now £25.99, Robens.de
Sea to Summit women’s comfort light
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Best: Camping mat for women
R-value: 3.7
Dimensions: 168cm x 55cm
Weight: 585g
Storage bag dimensions: 10.5cm x 23cm
Seasons: Spring, summer, autumn
Why we love it
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Springy air pockets
Take note
- Won’t suit tall women
Women tend to ‘sleep colder’ and feel temperature changes more keenly than men, and can end up with a lower body temperature during the night. So, while you don’t necessarily need a gender-specific mat, they can help – the best women’s sleeping mat models are usually more insulated in key areas such as around the torso, and are often warmer but lighter than unisex versions. ‘Comfort light’ is an obvious but appropriate name for Sea to Summit’s high-performance women’s sleeping pad – just looking at this quilted mat gives you an inkling of how comfortable it is to kip on it. No less than 324 air pockets create a springy but solid surface and keep you warm and well away from cold ground. This three-season mat has an R-value of 3.7 and should see you through most camping conditions besides the coldest winter camps.
Buy now £150.00, Seatosummit.co.uk
Your camping mat questions answered
What is the best camping mat?
When it comes to comfort that won’t break the bank, we rate the Therm-a-Rest neoair xlite NXT camping mat. However, if you’re after a budget-friendly option, the NHOWIN self-inflating camping mat is lightweight, compact, and a steal at less than £30. Looking for a female-specific mat? Try Sea to Summit’s comfort light for size.
Are self-inflating camping mats worth it?
A self-inflating camping mat contains a compressed inner foam that expands into shape when a vacuum valve is released, enabling air to flow into the camping mat.
While they’re heavier and bulkier than pure air mats, they come with a few added benefits. For one, you save a lot of time and effort blowing them up. Most self-inflating camping mats will let you add a few more breaths to increase the firmness of the padding, but they’re typically ready to use in a few minutes.
They’re also more durable than standard inflatables, as a puncture doesn’t render them useless, while the inner foam reduces noise and adds extra insulation and warmth. So, if all of this sounds like music to your ears, a self-inflating camping mat could well be worth the investment.
Want even more comfort while camping? Take a look at our guide to the best airbeds
